Local soccer champions crowned at War Memorial

Published 1:00 am, Sunday, March 29, 2009

DANBURY -- Danbury resident Clever Cordero had the performance of the evening, and the few hundred fans in attendance at the Danbury War Memorial never hesitated to show their appreciation for it.

Cordero scored all four goals for
Club Nacional
, pointing to the Nacional section of the stands after each of them, and led the team to a 4-1 victory over
Club Morona
in the championship of the under-38 division. Nacional was one of five soccer champions crowned Sunday evening at the War Memorial in the Ecuadorian
Civic Center
's annual league playoff tournaments.

"I'm happy to be able to score in front of these people," said Cordero through a translator. "I like to do that; that's really how I feel."

This marked the first year that there have been the two children's division championships, something Bautista is proud to have helped establish.

"The reason we keep doing it is the
Ecuadorian Civics Center
works for the community, we work for it in general," he said. "We want to try to keep the kids out of trouble, instead of in bars and discotheques."

While many of the younger players play on local travel teams, Sunday at the War Memorial proved to be a perfect opportunity for them to showcase their skills in front of raucous and passionate local family and friends.

One of them,
Edisson Salazar
, a 13-year old Danbury resident on the Principal team, effortlessly dribbled through traffic and operated his team's offense.

"It's a little bit more competitive in travel," he said. "But I feel excited (to play in front of so many people)."

Added his coach
Oswaldo Cambisach
, "This is a tradition, this is what we did when we were younger. The kids learn what we did when we were young."

Morona's 3-0 win over Independiente in the women's game was a rematch of last year's championship game in this league, when Independiente defeated Morona on penalty kicks.

"It feels good," said
Jessica Valencia
, a 24-year old Danbury resident on Morona. "Their team is very tough."